Human Rights Observances

The following calendar outlines the key human rights related observances in Canada, North America and internationally. You can use these special days as a way to raise awareness about various human rights themes and as a basis to launch your own events and activities.
=International; O = North America; = Canada

January

19 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday observed O

February

Black History Month O
1 - 7 International Development Week
9-16 National Citizenship and Heritage Week
16 National Heritage Day

March

8 International Women’s Day
8-14 International Women’s Week
16-22 National Francophonie Week
20 International Francophonie Day
21 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
21-28 Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling Against Racism and Racial Discrimination

April

3-4 National 30-hour Famines Week
7 World Health Day
17 Equality Day
19-25 Earth Week
22 Earth Day

May

3 World Press Freedom Day
15 International Day of Families
19-22 Aboriginal Awareness Week

June

1-7 National Access Awareness Week
5 World Environment Day
21 National Aboriginal Day

July

1 Canada Day
11 World Population Day

August

9 International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

September

Labour Day (First Monday of September ) O
8 International Literacy Day
International Day of Peace (opening of the United Nations’ General Assembly - Third Tuesday of September)

October

Women’s History Month
1 International Day for the Elderly
World Habitat Day (First Monday of October)
16 World Food Day
17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
19-26 Amnesty International Week
24 United Nations Day (UN) and World Development Information Day
24 -30 Disarmament Week

November

11 Remembrance Day
15 International Pen Day of the Imprisoned Writer
20 Universal Children’s Day
25 International Day to End Violence against Women

December

1 World AIDS Day
2 International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
3 International Day of Disabled Persons
6 National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (in memory of the Montreal massacre)
10 HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
1998 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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